SAN ANTONIO \u2013 Fraudulent paper license plates have long been a problem on Texas roads, but drivers will now leave the lot with a metal plate in hand.<\/p>\n
The change, which went into effect July 1, means car buyers either get a new plate at the dealership or transfer their existing one, eliminating the wait for paper temporary tags.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be a lot easier and more seamless for the customers,\u201d Shawn Barry with the San Antonio Auto Dealers Association said.<\/p>\n
We spoke with Barry about how the transition is going so far. He says dealers had some early challenges, but most were prepared.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, change comes with a lot of issues that we’re dealing with, but overall it\u2019s a positive change,\u201d Barry said. \u201cWe’re deputies of the state now as far as license plates. We’re responsible for all this. And it is concerning to make sure we’re doing it right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barry said the biggest obstacle has been on the technology side.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state of Texas wasn\u2019t ready for it, in my opinion. We had crashes, I still believe there are dealers still waiting on license plates,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
“How long do you think it’ll take before, statewide, everyone is pretty comfortable with this?” Reporter Jordan Elder asked.<\/p>\n
“I would probably say another 90 days, 120 days. Before the end of the year, just to be knowledgeable, have the systems working right,” Barry said.<\/p>\n
He added that specialty plates and entering the weight of heavy trucks have been particularly challenging in the software system, but expects those issues to be resolved soon, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we get past this learning curve, it\u2019ll be great not just for the customer, but for the dealer, and for the state of Texas,\u201d Barry said.<\/p>\n
The shift to metal plates is meant to crack down on fraudulent paper tags that have been sold illegally across the state and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe criminal dealers, they just started printing out tags and selling tags. They had no car lot, they had no cars, they had no inventory,\u201d said David Kohler, a deputy sheriff in Central Texas.<\/p>\n
In July, Emmanuel Padilla Reyes<\/a> and three co-conspirators were sentenced to prison after selling more than half a million Texas tags online and through messaging apps. <\/p>\n